So Memorial Weekend has come and gone and Walk A-Bout still remains in a dusty gravel parking lot among many others. To step back a couple of days she was to receive a fresh coat of bottom paint the prior week and be in the water waiting for us to rig the sails and stow a multitude of items purchased for her in the off season. We then received an e-mail from the marina telling us that the paint shipment was damaged and UPS would not even delivery it. (My guess is the back of a trailer is now ready anti fouling water) Nevertheless the new cans were to arrive the Friday before the holiday weekend but the marina did not have the time/staff to do the job on that day.

Well hec, we can do a little sanding and slap on some paint not a problem. Pieces of cake just roll up our sleeves and have at it!! Unfortunately when we arrived on Saturday we were told the paint had yet to arrive - earliest was to be Tuesday because of the Holiday, "Island Time "the woman informed us from across the counter.

Hhhhmmmm Island Time. I guess we have been living too long always expecting to have what we want today available for us yesterday. Hhhhmmmm Island Time, wait Island Time=Beer Time??? I think I can adjust. 

By the way never sand off bottom paint in a yellow tacky Hawaiian shirt, unless that was the look you wanted.

We foud out on Thursday that the bottom paint still has not been completed. Apparently the paint had to be shipped but there was a problem and had to be reshipped. It was supposed to be at Madeline Island by Friday so we decided to go do the painting ourselves. We arrived on Saturday and no paint. So, we spent the day of Sunday sanding the bottom, very messy. Bill will post some pics of us. Bill is staying the week and hopefully the paint will arrive on Tuesday. Still several other items that need to be taken care of prior to getting in the water and after. We are going to hope for next weekend to be back in the water. Don't know that we will make the Ice Out Party at Silver Bay next Saturday night.

So here we sit. Cheryl and I are writing his and her blogs for the emotions that we are feeling at the moment. We are at the cusp of changing our lifestyle so dramatically it is hard to comprehend.

10 years ago it was a fantasy/dream to take off and become a cruising couple. 4 years later it became a goal and we could see it just never imagined it at the end. With this goal there were ton of objectives that needed to be met for the goal to come to fruition. Each year we met those objectives one by one, we have achieved them all.

Wow - - we are good. Now we sit, amazed at our accomplishment but unable to fully appreciate the achievement. It is a romantic concept at its onset yet feels different once you have met it.

Walk A-bout is still on the hard, getting one last coat of bottom paint before touching the water once again. A week away the new beginning actually starts --- Time to think of the next fantasy/dream - this one will be to enjoy each new sunrise/sunset as we have anticipated in our minds for the past ten years.

I have spent the majority of my 40 working years in corporate America. Tomorrow I will give my notice. Lots of mixed emotions.

On the one hand: I will quote Martin Luther King, Jr. "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, free at last!" That pretty much sums up my feelings about leaving corporate America - I feel like a freed slave.

Now on the other hand: Oh my God - what am I thinking? America has an unemployment rate of 10% and I am voluntarily quitting! I can't say I'm retiring since 1. I'm not old enough to collect Social Security and 2. I may have to go back to work once our cruising life is over.

Bill and I both agree that at this point we should be bouncing off the walls, being so excited that we are going to live our dream in a few short months. I think reality is just now starting to set in and fears are starting to come out.

Even with the fears, the what ifs - from medical issues, family concerns, and on and on I can't imagine not at least trying to live our dream.

i am very proud of my little sister, ha ha you and bill are very brave or crazy. i know i will worry about you, but i think you are doing the right thing, my love to you both. sharron

Playing with YouTube

Cheryl05/23/2010, Still on Land

Bill has been playing with our old pics of our maiden voyage on Walk A-Bout, Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin to Silver Bay Minnesota in 2004 - Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, through the Sault Ste Marie Locks and across Lake Superior.

Bill's last day at work was last Thursday. I have a last doctors appointment Monday, assuming I get a clean bill of health I will give my official notice the following day. So, hopefully my last day will be June 8th.

Bill and I went through our list of all that we need to get done in the next 60 days and all of a sudden it doesn't seem long enough! I am flying out to California on June 25th to visit with my Mom then fly back here to Minnesota on June 29th along with my sister, Sharron, who will be visiting from Australia. Sharron will spend 3 weeks with us before flying back. We hope to spend the week of July 4th in the Apostle islands.

My task prior to flying out to California is to go through all my clothes and take 98% to Goodwill. Boy, will it be nice to get rid of all my business suits, high heels, etc. I'm still trying to figure out how to go from a big 6 drawer dresser and a double closet down to 2 very small shelves and ½ a hanging locker for all my clothes!!! This might be the most difficult part of living aboard of anything else I can think of.

Next step will be to try and sell a few pieces of the remaining furniture we have left and the minivan. We already greatly downsized our personal belongings and furniture about 2 1/2 half ago when we sold the townhouse. We will be getting a very small storage unit for a few of the things we just can't let go of.

Our last day at the apartment will be July 31st when we will move aboard Walk A-Bout.